Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT) are customized versions of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT. By integrating instructions, additional knowledge, and skills, GPTs can be optimized for specific needs. In November 2023, OpenAI launched the custom GPT feature, followed by the release of the GPT Store in January 2024—a public platform for users to create and share personalized LLMs. This marked a significant milestone in the evolution of artificial intelligence. GPTs have democratized AI development, enabling non-technical users to build specialized AI tools. The rapid emergence and widespread adoption of custom GPTs reflect a major shift in AI development—from generic models to highly specialized solutions created by a broader user base.
As of mid-February 2024, over 3 million custom GPTs have been created globally, with approximately 159,000 active models available in the GPT Store. Since the store's launch, the number of new models added daily has remained steady at around 500–1000. Notably, at the end of December 2023, the number of new and removed models balanced out, causing no net growth. The only day with negative growth occurred on January 20, 2024, when nearly 2,000 models were removed. By February 3, the average daily additions surged to 1,500. Geographically, the U.S. leads in user traffic, followed by South Korea and India. As of March 2025, custom GPTs have been upgraded to use the GPT-4o model. This rapid ecosystem growth demonstrates a strong demand for specialized AI tools and reveals regional market opportunities.
The GPT Store features categories such as: Trending Picks, DALL·E Image Generation, Writing, Productivity Tools, Research & Analysis, Programming, Education, and Lifestyle. According to March 2024 data, the GPTs with the highest average conversation volumes include: Image Generator, Write For Me, Consensus, Logo Creator, Canva, Scholar GPT, Code Copilot, Humanizer Pro, Grimoire, and VideoGPT. In April, research-oriented tools like AI PDF and AskYourPDF Research Assistant gained popularity. Website traffic analysis shows the most favored categories are productivity, programming, and image generation. This distribution highlights user preferences for creativity support and efficiency tools, as well as a growing demand for AI-powered information processing in academic settings.
Custom GPTs are built on base models like GPT-4o, offering natural language processing, multimodal capabilities (text/image), and enhanced contextual understanding. Developers can improve model performance by uploading domain-specific data (text, spreadsheets, databases, etc.). However, limitations include: output bias from training data, high environmental costs due to computational demands, and usage barriers for small to mid-sized enterprises. Compared to the general-purpose ChatGPT, custom GPTs offer persistent instruction memory and more stable domain-specific responses. Technically, they leverage a Transformer architecture with attention mechanisms, reinforced through features like custom instructions, knowledge base uploads, and conversational guidance. Effectiveness depends heavily on the quality and relevance of the training data.
As applications expand, three major challenges have emerged:
Technological Advances:
Societal Impact:
Quantitative Metrics:
User Feedback:
Custom GPTs have developed into an ecosystem of over 3 million active models, with their specialization capabilities reshaping industries. Sustainable growth will require balancing three key dimensions:
Over the next five years, with the launch of multimodal GPT-5, AI adoption is expected to reach over 80% of job sectors, ushering in an era of intelligent augmentation.
Table 1: Popular GPT Application Domains
Category Representative Function Typical Use Cases
| Productivity | Document automation | Contract generation/Meeting notes
| Education | Personalized learning | Language tutoring/Problem solving
| Healthcare | Image analysis | X-ray diagnostic support
Table 2: Technical Parameter Comparison
Metric GPT-4 Turbo GPT-4o
| Response Time | 320ms | 210ms
| Language Support | 25 languages | 97 languages
| Context Window | 128k tokens | 256k tokens
Table 3: Regional Usage Differences
Region Usage Share Primary Application Scenarios
| North America | 42% | Enterprise process automation
| Asia | 33% | Education/Content creation
| Europe | 18% | Healthcare/Legal documentation
Generative pre trained converters (GPT), as customized versions of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, are tailored for specific purposes by combining instructions, additional knowledge, and skills.
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